Knockdown crate.



PATBNTED. MAI.5', 19.03.

G. M. KERTZ. KNOGKDOWN CRATE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1902.

I0 MODEL.

TH: Noam: PETERS cc.McrrcI-LITNQv WASHINGTON, 11c.

No.726,9f11.

UNITE STAT Patented May.5, 1903.

GUSTAVE MJKERTZ, on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VK-NOQKDOZWN CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 726,941, dated May 5,1903. Application filed'March 13, 1902. Serialllo. 92,973.] (No model.)

To all whom; it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE M. KERTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Crates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing. the crate collapsed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, and Figi'at is a section on line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Myinvention relates to crates of that class known as knockdown crates, and is especially adapted for carrying poultry; but it is applicable for many, other purposes.

It consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 represents the base or bottom plate, whichis preferably of wood or other suitable materiahand 2 the top plate. The side and end walls 3 of the crate are constructed of flexible material, preferably canvas ducking, whereby thecrate can be collapsed, as shown in Fig. 2, the flexible material being folded in between the top and bottom plates.

In order to hold the crate in its extended or open position,.l arrange bails 4 at each end thereof, said bails being hinged to strips 5, which are secured to the upper face of.bot tom plate 1, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the bails when raised to their perpendicular position being secured in grooves in strips 6, which are fastened to the under face of top plate 2.

7 indicates ventilating-openings, of-which.

there may be any-suitable number, the purpose of which is obvious.

I preferably arrange two flexible handles 8, as shown, by which arrangement, when the crate is being carried in the hand, it is held from tilting when the fowls move from one end to the other of the crate.

As shown in the drawings, the side and end walls are made of one continuous piece of material and fastened to the top and bottom plates by tacks all around except at one end at the top, where it is left free to form flaps to provide an opening to take the fowl to and from the crate.

9 indicates a lacing-string which is passed through a suitable eye 10 or other fastening means to close the'flaps, said string being tied in an eye 11.

The crate is especially adapted for the use of poultry fanciers, as it may be folded when not in use, and it may be cheaply manufactured, owingto the simplicity of its construc- However, I do not limit myself to any particular use of the crate, and I am aware that, manyminor' changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without inthe least departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1 In a collapsible cfrate, thecombination of thetopand' bottom plates, flexibleiside and end walls secured to and-connecting said plates, means for holding the crate in an extended position, and opening in said crate, flaps for closing said opening, means for securing said flaps in their closed position, and ventilating-openings in said crate, substantially as described.

2. In a collapsible crate, the combination of the bottom plate 1, top plate 2, flexible side and end walls 3 secured to and connecting said plates, said side and end walls being of one continuous piece of material the ends of which form flaps to close an opening in said crate, and means for securing said flaps in their closed position, substantially as: described.

3. In a collapsible crate,'the combination of the bottom plate 1, top plate 2,"flexible' side and end walls 3 secured to and connecting said plates, saidside and'end walls being'of one continuous piece of material the-endsof which form flaps to close an opening in said crate, means for securing said flaps in their closed position, and handles or carrying means, substantially as described.

4.. In a collapsible crate, the combination of the bottom plate 1, top plate 2, flexible side and end walls 3 secured to and connecting said plates, said side and end walls being of whereby the crate may be held extended, subone continuous piece of material the ends of stantiaily as described. which form flaps to close an opening in said crate, means for securing said flaps in their 5 closed position, and bails 5 hinged to the bot- Witnesses:

tom plate, the free ends of said bails being FRANCES A. HOOVER, adapted to engage in grooves in the top plate, OLIVE OTTO.

GUSTAVE M. KERTZ. 

